Wrench.



A. W. REYNOLDS, jRw

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I2. 19!].

1,271,365. Patented m 2,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET lawmutoz A. W.-REYNOLDS, In.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12. 1917. 1 271 365. Patented July 2,1918.

, 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

1m: m-nms PEYERS co.. PHuTD-LIYHO, WASHINGYUN, u c.

ALBERT WORTH REYNOLDS, JR., OF PRINCETON, WEST VIRGINIA.

WRENCH.

Application filed September 12, 1917. Serial no. 190,987.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. REYNOLDS, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mercer and State of est Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and has for its object to produce a wrench wherein the movable jaw will be actuated in the direction of the stationary jaw by fluid means and moved in a direction away from the stationary jaw by spring means.

A further object of the invention is to produce a wrench in which'the movable jaw is fluid actuated in one direction, and in which simple but effective means is provided for retaining the said movable jaw adjusted with respect to the stationary jaw and wherein such fluid means is also utilized for retaining the said aws so adjusted, whereby to effectively grip an object therebetween.

It is a still further object of the invention to produce a wrench of this character which shall be of a comparatively simple construction, readily actuated by one hand of the operator, positive in its action in gripping an article between the jaws, and wherein the movable jaw will be automatically brought away from the object when the said object is to be released. I

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of the invention is more fully understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which there is illustrated a simple and satisfactory reduction of the improvement to practice, it being understood, that theshowing is merely illus trative and that I may make such changesin size, proportion, material, etc., as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

In the drawings, I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an approximately central longitudinal vertical sectional view'through the same. e I i Fig. 3 is a sectional View approximately on the line- 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is a sectional view approximately on the line H of- Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

on the line 6-6 of Fig- 2,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 77.of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof the hand operated plunger.

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, 10 designates the stationary jaw of my improved wrench, and 11 the shank which is integrally formed with the jaw and which is arranged at a right angle thereto. The shank .11, in the present instance, is'preferably rectangular in cross section, but the outer end thereof may be round, or, if rectangular, may be provided with rounded corners, the said outer end providing the handle for the wrench, and whichfor dis tin'otion is indicated by the numeral 12.

The handle 12 is bored to provide the same with a comparatively large chamber 13, the outerend of the handle having a threaded aperture communicating with the said chamber, and this aperture is normally closed by a threaded plug 14. The handle 12, upon one of the edges thereof, is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 15 which communicates with the chamber 13, but which is of a less area than the longitudinal diameter of the chamber. VVithin the opening 15 is designed to be arranged for slidable movement, the handle or" gripping portion 16 of a plunger 17. The plunapproximately Patented July 2, 1918;

engage with both the end and side walls of the chamber 13, and is preferably provided with a continuous groove within which is received a compressible packing 18that frictionally engages with the walls of the chamber-13,

o The shank 11, inward of the chamber 13 is provided with a longitudinally extending cylindrical bore 19 and with a port. or passage20betw'een the said chamber 13 and the said bore 19. The shank 11, adjacent to the outer wall of its bore 19 or the wallthereof disposed nearest the chamber 13 is provided with a depression 21 entering the port or passage 20 and within this depression is arranged a one way or flap valve 22 that normally closes the passage between'the chamber 13 and the bore 19. The valve 22, upon its outer face, is provided with a finger, the said finger being arranged in the path of contact with the spring pressed pin 2 1, the said pin passing through a suitable aperture in the shank 11, being disposed upon the edge thereof opposite the handle portion 16 of the plunger 17, and the said pin is provided with a head 25 By pressure upon the head 25, the pin 29'.- will be caused to contact with the finger 23 of the valve 22 to swing the valve'to its open position, and consequently, open the port or passage between the bore 19 and the chamber 13. i

- Arranged within the cylindrical bore is a piston26, provided with a stem 2'7 passing through a packin in an opening 28 in the inner end of the bore, the said piston rod 27 being connected to a jaw 29 whieh is arranged for slidable movement on the shank 11, the said jaw 29 being provided with a substantially rectangular opening through which the said shank 11 passes.

The shank 11 between the head 10 thereof and the bore 19 is provided with a centrally arranged slot or opening 30 and through this openingthe piston rod 26 is designed to play. The movable jaw 29 is provided with a laterally extending lug 31 received in the opening 30 and to this lug the outer end of the piston rod 27 is connected.

The chamber 13 is designed to receive therein a fluid 32, such as a heavy grade of ordinary lubricating oil, while surrounding the stem 27 and exerting a tension between the piston26 and one of the end walls of the bore 19 is a helical spring 33.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows: The operator holds the wrench in one of his hands. The wrench is arranged to engage with an object between the jaws thereof. The contact of the piston head 26 with one of the end walls of the bore 19 limits the movement of the jaw 29 away from the jaw 10. The operator presses upon the handle 16 of the plunger 17, forcing the oil 32, from the chamber 13 through the passage 20 into contacting engagement with the piston head26. The pressureexerted by the .oil upon the said piston head will cause the same to move longitudinally against the pressure of the spring 23, eausingthe jaw 29 to travel in the direction of the jaw 10. When the obj set is engaged between the jaws 10, and 29 the operator turns the wrench in the ordinary manner, still keeping the plunger l7 compressed inwardlyxof the chamber '13, but arelease of such pressure will not permit of the jaw 29 being moved away from the objeet,'as the valve 22 closing the passage between the port 20 and the chani ber 13 will prevent the reentranceof the oil from the said port to the said chamber, and thus it will be noted that when the jaw 29 is adjusted, it will be effectively held in such adjusted position. When the object is to be released from between the jaws l0 and 29,

pressure is exerted upon the head 25 of the pin 2% causing the latter, as previously stated, to contact with the finger 23, to swing the said valve to its open position, thus permitting the oil to flow from the bore 19 back into the chamber 13, it being understood that pressure upon the handle portion 16 of the plunger 17 is released. The spring 33 is instrumental in moving the plunger to its initial or normal position, as well as for forcing the oil from contact with the face of the piston 26 through the passage 20 into the chamber 13. The spring 33 may be comparatively weak, but is, of course, of suflicient strength to at all times move the piston 26 to bring the same into contacting engagement with the end wall of the bore 19 which communicates with the passage 20.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: j

1. In a wrench of the class described, a stationary jaw having an angular shank providing, at its outer end, a handle, a chamber in said handle designed to receive an oil of a heavy specific gravity, a plunger arranged transversely in the chamber, said plunger having a reduced portion extending through a longitudinal opening in the handle and providing a hand grip, said shank having a sage between the compartments, a spring influenced plunger in one of the compartments connected with the movable aw, the other com )artment being of a substantially rectan 'ular formation and the shank havin a rectangular opening communicating with the saidcompartment, arectangular plunger member in the compartment having a rec tangular ,hand grip passing through the opening in the shank, said last mentioned compartment designed to receive a fluid, a flap valve in the passage between the compartments, said valvehaving an offset finger, and a spring influenced pin passing transversely through the shank and having its inner end. arranged in the path of contact with the finger of the valve.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT WORTH REYNOLDS, JR.

Gopics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of intents,

' Washington, D, G." 

